Author: Inas Gačanin
Amateur Theatre “Neretva” Konjic
AITA/IATA Associate Member 388, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date of publication: 11/02/2025
Nestled in the heart of Konjic, a town known for its stunning natural beauty, lies a cultural beacon: Amateur Theatre “Neretva.” For almost 80 years, our dedicated ensemble has provided a safe haven for creativity and community spirit, proving the old saying: Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Over the decades, members and friends of this theatre have proved that powerful art often flourishes in the most unexpected places. The full ensemble consists of members as young as 4, to members as old as 40. They are split into 4 groups referred to as “stages”.
Children’s Stage – The Youngest Keepers of Theatre
A. Group 1 (4-11yo) led by Ena Osmanović; play: Forest Fairy Tale
The ensemble, led by Ena has come up with their own interpretations of the classic fairy tale stories such as the Little Red Riding Hood or Cinderella and were due to premiere their work in December.
B. Group 2 (7-12yo) led by Lara Junuz; play: Little Prince
This group is doing their own rendition of the classic tale, which was dramatized by a former member Inas Jablan. This approach shows the children that a classic story doesn’t have to be homework, but a living piece they can present on stage.
C. Group 3 (9-14yo) led by Ena Osmanović; play: Wanderers
(Bosnian: Zalutalice) Written by the ensemble, this play talks about a group of middle school kids who find a magic lamp and enter a world of princes and princesses, where they encounter an evil witch that can only be defeated by dance!
Youth Stage – Young Voices, Timeless Questions
With Inas Gačanin at the helm of the ship as the director, the Youth Stage now embarks on one of their most ambitious projects to date: a production of the classic murder mystery – Eight Women!
This production intends to make for an internationally collaborative project, making it a bridge connecting the small town of Konjic to the European cultural scene. This production is set for a brand new artistic collaboration Louisa Chas, a Paris-based actress and director, whose involvement promises to bring a fresh perspective, and ensure cultural authenticity.
Furthermore, this production harnesses the energy and talent of the community’s youth, featuring a cast of high school students. At its heart, this initiative is about education, mentorship, and creating a formative environment where the next generation of artists can learn, grow, and express themselves. This investment in local youth underscores the vital role of theatre in the development of any community as well as its role as an alternative form of education.
Young Playwrights, Timeless Questions
At AP “Neretva” Konjic, we believe that the most powerful stories often come from our youngest members. This conviction was confirmed when the original play by our talented young members, Lara Junuz, Amina Gakić, and Asja Ćorić was awarded the Best Original Play in the theatre category at the 23rd Festival of High School Drama Creativity.
The play “Masks”, a profoundly inventive piece, ponders the position of women and young people across three distinct time periods: the past, the present and the future. In a captivating sci-fi allegory, the audience follows three robots (Moduses) who attempt to live as humans, navigating daily life and its challenges; namely mental health struggles, underestimation, stereotypes, and high expectations that the society has for young women in any given time period. After completing their “human” life cycles, they revert back to their original forms. In their powerful closing monologues, they try to piece together the human experience, struggling between the illogical, beautiful and often painful complexities of human logic, mistakes, and emotions.
This award-winning work exemplifies the forward thinking spirit of amateur theatre. It proves that our stages are not just for interpreting existing works, but are vital spaces for experimentation and creation of new and bold narratives that challenge and inspire.
Elders’ Stage – Passion Without Age
While youth projects often operate at a rather frenetic pace, the Elders’ Stage embodies a different rhythm. Since this group consists of adults over the age of 18, the rehearsals and performances are organized around workdays, helping balance the work and family with the passion to create on stage.
For the past 5 years, this group has been guided by the writing and direction of Emir Tucaković. For him, this work is more than a hobby; he describes it as a form of “work therapy,” a creative outlet that disburdens the soul. With Emir as the director and his sister Aida Tucaković as the stage manager, the ensemble has produced a series of humorous productions that have been well received by wide audiences. Now they are embarking on the most ambitious project to date: a new play titled Hotel California. This marks a significant evolution, a more serious and complex work that is bound to elevate the artistic profile of the Elders’ Stage.
A Stage for the Future: 23 Years of Youthful Creativity
For 23 years, AP “Neretva” from Konjic has been organizing the Festival of High School Dramatic Creativity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian: Festival Srednjoškolskog Dramskog Stvaralaštva Bosne i Hercegovine; abbreviated to FSDS). This project has been one of the most significant cultural and educational events in the country.
This is more than just a festival; it is a national institution that has fundamentally shaped the country’s amateur theatre landscape. The numbers alone tell a story of commendable reach and impact:
● 140 school drama sections and amateur theatre groups
● 60 towns and cities
● 7,500 participants
● 450 plays
● 40 professional theatre artists as mentors and jury members
These figures represent generations of young people who have found their voices by being given an opportunity to present their works on the stage. However, it is not all about the numbers. More importantly, it is about the fact that many of these groups have never had a chance to present their works anywhere else, and they have still prepared their plays with the utmost passion and commitment, knowing that AP “Neretva” will provide them with the space to shine.
Behind these numbers also lies the true heart of our theatre: a profound and unwavering volunteer spirit. Every aspect of the festival, from its coordination to the direction of each young ensemble, is driven by passion and not payment. The directors, set builders, coordinators, and mentors are all volunteers who dedicate countless hours out of a shared belief in the transformative power of theatre for young people.
A Project for the Whole Community
This project engages young people year-round in the creation of concrete artistic work in terms of the participants themselves. More than that, the Festival engages local youth in terms of volunteer work, where many local high schoolers participate in the organization and execution of the project. This further raises the level of local culture through the simple acts of volunteering and attending plays.
The latest edition of our festival featured 26 theatre groups from 20 cities across the country, totalling around 450 participants. They came from both entities (Republic of Srpska and Federation of B&H), from Banja Luka to Bileća, from Doboj to Sarajevo; proving that the urge to create and connect knows no geographical or national borders.
The Unseen Cast: A Culture of Volunteerism
Whether it is the international ambition of Eight Women, the creativity of our young actors and playwrights, or the monumental effort of hosting a national festival for over two decades, every achievement of AP “Neretva” shares a vital source of strength: volunteers!
Our directors, set designers, writers, project coordinators, management board members, and mentors are not paid for their passion; they are driven by a shared belief in the transformative power of theatre. They build worlds on the stage not for the applause, but for the opportunity to see a young person find their voice, to witness a community come together, and to ensure that the stage remains a vibrant living space for generations to come. This culture of selfless contribution is the true foundation of our theatre! It is the backstage magic that makes the on-stage magic possible, and it is the greatest legacy we are building together.